MELBOURNE, Australia — American Serena Williams started the defense of her Australian Open title with a dominating 6-2, 6-1 victory over Polish teenager Urszula Radwanska.
Williams also lost a mere three games in her previous match at Melbourne Park: a 6-0, 6-3 rout of Russian Dinara Safina in last year's final.
"It's such a great experience coming back, especially with my last moment out here holding up the trophy," Williams said. "It's one of my favorite Slams. I tend to do really well here."
Despite having her right thigh wrapped with a bandage, Williams didn't show any signs of restricted movement.
The 28-year-old hurt her left knee at the Sydney International on Friday and later said she has been bothered by a foot problem.
Williams has won the title in each odd-numbered year since 2003.
Ana Ivanovic, a Serb who reached the Australian Open final and won the French Open in 2008, opened with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Shenay Perry. Ivanovic has become a crowd favorite Down Under since she began dating Australian pro golfer Adam Scott.
Justine Henin made her comeback to Grand Slam play with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in Henin's first match at a major since she lost to eventual champion Maria Sharapova of Russia in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Australian Open.
On the men's side, top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland got past Russian Igor Andreev 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0. Federer had to save three set points in the 12th game of third set before winning the tiebreaker and dominating the fourth set.
No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia had a 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 win over Dieter Kindlmann of Germany.
Americans James Blake and John Isner advanced.
Blake posted a 7-5, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Arnaud Clement of France and Isner held off Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-4.
American Sam Querrey, seeded 25th, lost to German Rainer Schuettler 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
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